Bcc, Stetson Line Up Basketball Players To Sign Today

SPORT - COLLEGES

April 12, 1989|By Beth Rhodes and Alan Schmadtke of The Sentinel Staff

Jack ''Cy'' McClairen said he hopes to have four. Nancy Nichols will have one for sure, but by the time she is through she may have four more.

And Glenn Wilkes, with assistant Frank Burnell doing the legwork, may have some new recruits as well.

That's the shopping list for three of the area's college basketball coaches as the second national signing period begins today.

McClairen, Bethune-Cookman College's men's basketball coach, figures to be today's busiest coach. He said he has verbal commitments from four players and hopes to have them signed to grants-in-aid today.

The Wildcats hope to get some help at center from 6-foot-8 Darryl Nash from Dade City, and they have three forwards lined up in Anthony Parsons, 6-5 from Stuart Martin County; Mitchell Foster, 6-7 from Newark, N.J., and Joe Parham, 6-6 transfer from Western Nebraska Community College.

Parham is orginally from Philadelphia and McClairen said Wildcats assistant coach Warren Baker knew of Parham and Foster through his northern contacts.

Nichols, Stetson University's women's coach, has a commitment from Madison guard Adrienne Grant, and Grant is expected to sign her grant today to become the Hatters' third member of the Class of 1994.

In the fall signing period the Hatters signed Lake Mary guard Tracy Brandenburg from Lake Mary and Kristen Moriarity from Naples.

Grant, 5-11, will fit part of the bill for Nichols' wanting to increase the Hatters' rebounding ability.

''We wanted two get two post players,'' she said. ''We signed one in the early signing period, and we hope to get another one this week.''

The Hatters, who lose forwards Courtney Hall, Michelle Michael and guard Anita Mathur to graduation, may sign four other recruits in the next week. They have been recruiting a pair of Marianna players, 5-10 forward Demetria McMillian and 5-7 guard Twana Wilson, as well as Amy Knauff, a 5-6 guard from Allen Nease, and Amy Kuvach, a 5-8 guard from Lake Mary.

Stetson also is interested in Mainland forward Kristy Austell, who is recovering from knee surgery. Kuvach already has visited Stetson, while Knauff is expected to visit later this week.

Meanwhile, Burnell will be on the road hoping to add to the four recruits Stetson already has signed while Wilkes finishes his duties as an assistant coach at the Orlando All-Star Classic.

The Hatters have expressed an interest in Sebring guard Kenny Daniel.

However, Wilkes said earlier this week the Hatters may not sign any players today but may have to wait until Thursday or Friday to secure signatures.

The list of who's who for the Larry Little Celebrity Roast continues to grow. Gene Upshaw has added his name to those confirmed to take their jovial jabs at Little, a former All-Pro offensive lineman with the Miami Dolphins. Nat Moore, Mercury Morris, Jim Kiick, Garo Yepremeian and Earl Morrall will be among Little's former teammates on hand to tell his secrets, along with his brother, David, of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Famed former announcer Howard Cosell is going to serve as master of ceremonies for the May 5 event at the Daytona Beach Marriott. Tickets are $100 and proceeds will benefit the Bethune-Cookman Wildcat Athletic Foundations.

The Wildcats' football team is so riddled with injuries, Little didn't have enough players to hold a full team practice on Tuesday. Little is down to half of an offensive line after Michael Willis and Eddie Banks were both hurt last week. Little just had a few groups work out on Tuesday and gave everyone else the day off. ''I don't have enough bodies, but we're still practicing,'' Little said. The Wildcats have only a few more days to prepare for the spring game, which will be on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on the practice field.

Dedication ceremonies for Bethune-Cookman's new weight room will be held on April 23 in conjunction with baccalaureate ceremonies. The weight room, located on the edge of the campus football practice field, is ready except for a few minor details, Little said.